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The Bad Sleep Well

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100% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In this loose adaptation of "Hamlet," illegitimate son Kôichi Nishi (Toshirô Mifune) climbs to a high position within a Japanese corporation and marries the crippled daughter (Kyôko Kagawa) of company vice president Iwabuchi (Masayuki Mori). At the reception, the wedding cake is a replica of their corporate headquarters, but an aspect of the design reminds the party of the hushed-up death of Nishi's father. It is then that Nishi unleashes his plan to avenge his father's death.
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Critics Reviews

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Ed Park Village Voice Opening with a bravura wedding sequence and ending with a sycophantic bow to a replaced telephone receiver, the film has its longueurs, but Mifune's buttoned-down avenger is a compelling portrait of righteous obsession foundering on unpredictable reality. Jun 19, 2008 Full Review Tom Milne Time Out Kurosawa rather loaded the film on the side of social significance, while neglecting to capitalise on the noir aspects that underlie it. Even so, his use of the 'scope screen is masterly. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Nick Schager Slant Magazine A freestyle homage to Hamlet that does away with the costumed faithfulness of Kurosawa's other Shakespeare adaptations. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 9, 2006 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia Kurosawa constructs a Shakespearean revenge plot that illustrates, with much pathos, an argument about corporate corruption in postwar Japanese society, with a compelling and restrained performance by Toshiro Mifune. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 7/10 May 15, 2021 Full Review James Berardinelli ReelViews Kurosawa's mastery of the story is evident. Rated: 3/4 Mar 9, 2021 Full Review Hoshi Soffen Shin Nichibei/New Japanese American News [The Bad Sleep Well] is a daring film revealing the existence of corruption and scandal within any high financing enterprise in any society. The message that haunts us is that everything will be hushed up again by the smooth operating higher-ups. Oct 22, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dani G For me it was one of the more ho-hum films of Kurosawa, with some things that just don't click, including acting and music... Plus the script it's not that clever Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/03/25 Full Review Insomniac X Scathing portrait of corporate corruption in postwar Japan featuring a restrained leading performance by Toshiro Mifune. Unfortunately hampered by a convoluted plot, awkward pacing, and anticlimactic finale. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/03/25 Full Review Alec B Come for the reworking of "Hamlet" in 1960s corporate Japan, stay for the tension filled Noir atmosphere. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/08/24 Full Review dustin d The Bad Sleep Well is a surprising, real-world revenge movie. It starts out slow and confusing, but is worth the investment of time and attention. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review william d The movie starts out with a wonderfully strange wedding reception, then loses steam from there. It's not bad, just not good enough to recommend. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review tom k The ending was a bit disappointing, but then again knowing how Kurosawa enjoys Shakespeare, the tragic and realistic ending is apropos. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Bad Sleep Well

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Cast & Crew

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Akira Kurosawa

Director

Toshiro Mifune

Koichi Nishi

Takeshi Kato

Itakura

Masayuki Mori

Company President Iwabuchi

Kyoko Kagawa

Yoshiko Nishi

Tatsuya Mihashi

Tatsuo Iwabuchi
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The Bad Sleep Well

The Bad Sleep Well (1960) The Bad Sleep Well (1960) The Bad Sleep Well (1960) The Bad Sleep Well (1960) The Bad Sleep Well (1960) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In this loose adaptation of "Hamlet," illegitimate son Kôichi Nishi (Toshirô Mifune) climbs to a high position within a Japanese corporation and marries the crippled daughter (Kyôko Kagawa) of company vice president Iwabuchi (Masayuki Mori). At the reception, the wedding cake is a replica of their corporate headquarters, but an aspect of the design reminds the party of the hushed-up death of Nishi's father. It is then that Nishi unleashes his plan to avenge his father's death.
Director
Akira Kurosawa
Producer
Akira Kurosawa, Tomoyuki Tanaka
Screenwriter
Shinobu Hashimoto, Eijirô Hisaita, Ryûzô Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni
Production Co
Kurosawa Production, Toho Company
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 22, 1962, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Jan 10, 2006
Runtime
2h 24m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)